Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-09-22
AWFUL FATALITY AT BELLAIRE.

| a VIZ I'll a IALll Al DEIIdlhE
The most horrible accident that ha
occurred in this county within our re
collection took place at Bellaire Satur
day afternoon. Accident" however
is not the proper word to apply to It'll
was crime, butchery of three men il
the discharge of their duty by a crimi
nally careless fellow employe.
Edward Duffy, section boss, Patrick
Barrett, and James Harden were en-.
gagged in repairing the track, when they
| were run down by an engine in charge OF
Wilson Wildman, of Newark. backing
over the river to take out the westbound
accommodation. 1t is asserted that En-
giDeer Wildman's attention was directed
ed in some other course than the track
ahead of him, and that the fireman Was
shoveling coal into 1.-The furnace at the
moment Of the accident. At all events
neither saw the flag franticalIy waved,
by Mr. Duffy until he was struck by the
tender and hurled TO the ground. fifty
feet below. dying with the flag firmly
clutched in his hand. Flight was impos
Sible, there was no room to stand to one
side until the engine should pass, and
the other two men laid down on the ties,
in hope it would pass over them. They
we're caught, however, ,and dragged some
distance. Barrett died soon after being
rescued, and Harden is thought to be
fatally injured.
Mr.. Duffy was an old and faithful
employe of the company. He was hurl-
ed to his death within fifty yards of his
home, and his fall was witnessed by one
of his daughters. He leaves a wife and
five childten.
The engineer brought his train over
from Benw0od. and took it on to New
ark. 1t appears large crowd of men
assembled at the scene of the accident,
and that excitement ran high. but no
one had the presence of mind to arrest
the engineer.
This awful tragedy must not escape
the most searching investigation at the
hands of the law. The public demand
of the authorities the prompt arrest of
the engineer. and his indictment for
maDslaughter, and if the facts are as re-
ported, good round term of years for
him 10 the peniteDtiary.
The Tribune of Tuesday, has state
ment, which it is said is made by those
who ought to know, as follows: Wilson
Wildman lives at Newark and generally
runs north and west. He had not been
at Bellaire since the men commence
ed work on the approach, had re-
ceived no information or instructions
upon the subject. and was ignorant of
the fact that the men were at work
there.
If this statement is correct, then the
blame shifts from the engineer to the
officers of the company who failed to
advise bin of the necessity of keeping
a look out for the men who were work
ing in dangerous place,in pursuance Of
orders, and whose duty it was to protect
them. Let the responsibility be fixed.
The attorney for the State should take a
little pains to get at the bot ON facts.
Somebody is responsible for the wanton
killing of these faithful men.
Since the foregoing was put in type,
we have learned these facts:
1t is thought all of the men might
have escaped except for the fact that
they had rail loose, and their anxiety
for fear the engine aud tender should
be pitched off the arcade down into the
street. 1t was for that reason Mr.. Duffy
tried to stop the engine with flag.
while the men hurriedly drove the
spikes until the engine was almost on
them.
Mr.. Wildman is an old engineer. He
knew nothing whatever of the accident
until he returned from Benwood with
MS train. The poor man broke down
and cried like child. and another ent
yineer was put on with him, for fear he
would be unable to complete his trip.